This is why people don't get along

No matter our political affiliation, faith, career, hobbies, or overall outlook on life, we should strive our best to get along and accept each others' differences.

The 2016 election demonstrated one glaring fact: the U.S. remains bitterly divided. It pains me to see friends, coworkers, and people on the street bickering over politics, the conversations at times devolving into all-out mudslinging reminiscent of what we saw on the campaign trail.

When you find your conversation escalating into a heated argument over immigration, abortion, gay marriage, religion, or any other touchy subject, interject and say, "We'll agree to disagree and leave it at that." Then change the subject.

There is enough conflict and resentment in the world as it is. The last thing we need is to engage in a battle of words with people in our lives who mean a lot to us.

I'm all for a vigorous intellectual debate. But once talking turns into shouting and shouting turns into a verbal assault. that's when you know it's gone too far. Such confrontations seldom end well.

We don't have to agree with people in order to like and respect them. I happen to believe that we should embrace our individual differences, for they make us unique -- they make us who we are.

There is far too much intolerance in this world. Instead of immediately expecting others to think like us and dismissing them when they don't, we should at least hear them out. Even if we don't agree their views on something, we may still concede that they make sound arguments.

Let us find common ground with each other rather than harp on our differences. Instead of tearing one another down, let's support each other any which way we can. Let us make peace, not war. Let us aim for acceptance rather than bigotry. Let us treat each other like neighbors, not adversaries. Let us be united, not divided.

At the end of the day, we're all in this crazy journey called life -- together.

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